Tenets of Professionalism

The purpose of these Tenets of Professionalism is to provide a framework of conduct above and beyond the minimum standards provided by the Code of Ethics of the Ice Skating Institute.

The Ice Skating Institute is aware that applicable rules of ethics covering professional responsibility generally provide only minimum standards of acceptable conduct. The Ice Skating Institute and its membership aspire to the highest ideals of professionalism and acknowledge that the following tenets of professional conduct should be followed in the performance of professional services provided to those with whom we have contact.

1. As coaches, we will conduct ourselves in a manner that demonstrates respect for the rules under which our skaters compete, and that we will preserve with honor and integrity ISI testing programs and competitions.

2. The Ice Skating Institute recognizes that professional courtesy is consistent with the role of the coach. As members of the Ice Skating Institute, coaches will be civil and courteous to all with whom we come in contact and will endeavor to maintain a collegial relationship with other coaches.

3. As skating coaches, we acknowledge that from time to time the students with whom we work may wish to leave us as their coach and seek coaching elsewhere. We acknowledge that we will cooperate with other coaches when conflicts arise and will be willing to make such changes on behalf of the students as will complement the further performance and progress of those students.

4. When competitions or testing situations arise, we agree to keep our students and the parents of those students well informed and involve them in the decision-making that affects their interest while at the same time avoiding emotional attachment to our students and their activities, both in skating and out of skating, that might impair our ability to render professional service.

5. As professionals, and as members of the Ice Skating Institute, we will honor our promises and our commitments, whether oral or in writing, and strive to build a reputation for dignity, honesty and integrity in the skating profession.

6. As professionals, and members of the Ice Skating Institute, we will not make groundless accusations of impropriety or attribute bad motives to other coaches in bad faith or without good cause.

7. As professionals, and as members of the Ice Skating Institute, we will not engage in any course of conduct designed to harass another coach, skating organization official, skater or parent of a skater.

8. As professionals, and as members of the Ice Skating Institute, we will strive to expand our knowledge of skating and to achieve and maintain proficiency in our area of expertise.

9. We will never allow race, gender, religion, age or other suspect classifications of persons to improperly motivate our actions.

10. At all times and in all things when dealing with the skating public, officials and other members of the coaching profession, we will adhere to the proposition that our practices shall be governed by the principles of honesty and integrity.